Friday 29 January 2016

January Challenges - Glitz and Glam Lace

I don't do a lot of pinks but there are 2 types I like, a blue pink and a dusky pink - I am completely in love with this stunning dusky pink, 'Ard As Nails Faye.
As with Meadow that I wore earlier in the week, I think this is is quite a vintage shade and I just adore it. Wonderful coverage and finish - I really do like every 'Ard As Nails polish I've tried.
The prompt for #wnac2016 was Glitz and Glam Lace so I decided to add a thin coat of glitter to my dusky pink and then stamp using Yours Cosmetics Sascha Gossen YS01 and Colour Alike Kind of White.
I used Glam Polish Glitter In My Veins. It isn't really a glitter topper but I did manage to get the level of coverage I wanted using one coat sparingly.
Once I had stamped I took a few photos and then added matte top coat, I think the matte really works on this one. Added a couple of macros too.
'Ard As Nails Faye
'Ard As Nails Faye
 'Ard As Nails Faye
 'Ard As Nails Faye

Glam Polish Glitter In My Veins
Glam Polish Glitter In My Veins
Sascga Gossen YS01 and Colour Alike Kind of White
YS01 and Colour Alike Kind of White
 Sascga Gossen YS01 and Colour Alike Kind of White
Sascga Gossen YS01 and Colour Alike Kind of White
Sascga Gossen YS01 and Colour Alike Kind of White

40 Great Nail Art Ideas - Films

This weeks prompt for 40 Great Nails Art Ideas was Films - I went with the first idea that came to mind - The Great Gatsby because that meant I could use my Art Deco plates!
I used a smooshed base that I had done for another challenge and then stamped on top using Avon Frosted Peach and Messy Mansion Symetrika 01.
Then I added a second layer of stamping using A England Camelot and 2 different plates - Messy Mansion MM45 and Emily de Molly EDM11.
I am pleased with how these turned out although as usual I have struggled to capture them well on camera.
Messy Mansion Symetrika 01
Messy Mansion Symetrika 01
Messy Mansion MM45 and Emily de Molly EDM11
Messy Mansion MM45 and Emily de Molly EDM11
 Messy Mansion MM45 and Emily de Molly EDM11
Messy Mansion MM45 and Emily de Molly EDM11
early morning sunshine shot
Messy Mansion MM45 and Emily de Molly EDM11
Messy Mansion MM45 and Emily de Molly EDM11
couldn't resist a matte shot



Tuesday 26 January 2016

January Challenges - Smooshing, Stripes and some Turkish stamping

I bought a new white polish last week. I am always on the look out for a decent white that doesn't end up looking chalky and I am really pleased with this one. 'Ard As Nails White Van Girl is a lovely creme polish which gave great coverage in two coats.
I used this as my base for the #smooshattack being run on a weekly basis on IG.
This was my first one, so quite scary! I used  HJ Manicure Candy Pink HJ Manicure, HJ Manaicure Pink Bikini and Nails Inc Kate Spade Soho Silver. I actually liked this a lot more than I thought and it's quite easy so I think I'll be doing it again. Makes a great base for a mani too.
The prompt was Stripes for #clairestelle8jan and I used Pet'la Plate Basics and Colour Alike Aurora over my pink and silver smoosh. I took advantage of a New Year sale to get some more Pet'la plates! I really like them and the chance to get more was too good to miss,
Finally I used Pet'la Plate Tu-Turkey-key and A England Camelot to add another layer.
'Ard As Nails White Van Girl
'Ard As Nails White Van Girl
 'Ard As Nails White Van Girl
 'Ard As Nails White Van Girl

Pink and Silver #smooshattack
Pink and Silver #smooshattack
 Pink and Silver #smooshattack

Pet'la Plate Basics
Pet'la Plate Basics
 Pet'la Plate Basics
Pet'la Plate Tu-Turkey-key
Pet'la Plate Tu-Turkey-key

Saturday 23 January 2016

January Challenges - Flakes and Spirals

I treated myself to a new black polish last week, 'Ard as Nails Beauty. It was part of a new selection of creme shades they had just brought out - you always need a good black in your stash!
This one is lovely, excellent application and good coverage in two coats. Pictures are taken with no top coat and look how glossy (ignore the rain drops!!)
I then used that as my base for #wnac2016. The prompt was Foil / Flakes - I don't have any foils but I do have this stunning metallic flakie Violet Rose Polish I Have a Dream, a stunning mix of metal flakes with purple being the main colour, and then a dash of evrything else in there too!
I just used one coat for this mani.
Then I added Spirals for #clairestelle8jan using Pet'la Plate Spinning and Colour Alike Aurora.
'Ard as Nails Beauty
'Ard as Nails Beauty
 'Ard as Nails Beauty

Violet Rose I Have a Dream
Violet Rose I Have a Dream
 Violet Rose I Have a Dream

Pet'la Plate Spinning
Pet'la Plate Spinning
 Pet'la Plate Spinning

Friday 22 January 2016

40 Great Nail Art Ideas - 3 Shades of Purple with Splatter

Well, the colour prompt for 40 Great Nail Art Ideas was 3 shades of purple -  not a problem, I must have a couple of hundred purples. The pattern prompt however was Splatter. I did try! in fact my rough try on the UberMat indicated that whilst messy, it would work, so I did all the preparation ready to get messy and then failed! so after a number of futile attempts I went for plan B (which I would have done on the other hand anyway!) and stamped. I am not proud of my failure but I think I am pragmatic and that after a while there seemed nothing to be gained by getting frustrated.
I used Yours Cosmetics Sascha Gossen YS12 and an image which I imagine would be great for fake water spotting but I think looks reasonably splattery too.
I started with a base of HJ Manicure Lavender which is a gorgeous slightly dusky purple. This is a lovely creme polish, applied beautifully and dries to a nice glossy finish. Pictures are taken with top coat.
Having abandoned the messy splatter fiasco I stamped, first with Leighton Denny Really Royal and then Virtuous Polish Queen Ester.
I had planned to use this as a base for another mani but actually I liked it so much I left it as it was.
HJ Manicure Lavender
HJ Manicure Lavender
 HJ Manicure Lavender

3 shades of Purple - Splatter - YS12
3 shades of Purple - Splatter


Wednesday 20 January 2016

January Challenges - Clocks and Dance Legend Bow Polish Hex

As I mentioned earlier in the week, I bought some Dance Legend thermal polishes - Today I am wearing Hex, a red thermal. This lovely polish has fine sparkly glitter in it, just like Mutation, and as with Mutation I did need 3 coats for full opacity when warm.
Again, the polish dries to a matte finish so I took a few shots before adding top coat.
I have to confess, I prefer Mutation, being a blue green kind of person but I do like this. particularly in its transition phase. The warm red is just a touch too orange for me but as soon as it starts to cool I love it!
The prompt for #clairestelle8jan was clocks so I used Moyou London Steampunk 03 and Colour Alike Supernova to add the clock images.
I took loads of shots, and then added a matte top coat and took quite  few more! As before, my favourite pics are of the transition phase.
Bow by Dance Legend Hex
Bow by Dance Legend Hex
 Bow by Dance Legend Hex
Bow by Dance Legend Hex
 Bow by Dance Legend Hex
Moyou London Steampunk 03
Moyou London Steampunk 03
 Moyou London Steampunk 03

Moyou London Steampunk 03
 Moyou London Steampunk 03

Monday 18 January 2016

When Colours Collide - Grey and Pink

Grey and Pink for #whencolourscollide -
I started with a base of a rather lovely pink, HJ Manicure Candy Pink.
I then used HJ Manicure SubZero and Esmaltes Da Kelly Topolino with Apipila Super Plate E over a gradient of Candy Pink and HJ Manicure Pink Bikini.
This challenge was really popular and we had to do 3 collages - see the end of this post.
Finally, as a little extra, I used Avon Mirror Shine Polished Pink and BundleMonster + Lucy's Stash BM-XL209 to add those sweet little bubbles.
HJ Manicure Candy Pink
HJ Manicure Candy Pink
 HJ Manicure Candy Pink
 HJ Manicure Candy Pink

HJ Manicure SubZero and Esmaltes Da Kelly Topolino with Apipila Super Plate E over a gradient of Candy Pink and HJ Manicure Pink Bikini
Grey and Pink
 HJ Manicure SubZero and Esmaltes Da Kelly Topolino with Apipila Super Plate E over a gradient of Candy Pink and HJ Manicure Pink Bikini

BundleMonster + Lucy's Stash BM-XL209
BundleMonster + Lucy's Stash BM-XL209
 BundleMonster + Lucy's Stash BM-XL209
 BundleMonster + Lucy's Stash BM-XL209